This paper charts a brief history of Ghana’s chronic disease burden over the last five years, focusing on prevalence, risk and illness implications in relation to aging. Two arguments are made. First, chronic diseases in Ghana constitute public health and developmental challenges, requiring the same intellectual and financial commitments afforded to communicable and infectious diseases. Information on the prevalence of chronic disease in Ghana is limited in scope and quality. There is no single source that can be used to describe the effects of ill health implications across the spectrum of disease severity.
Administrative data sources such as hospital out-patient’s records from National Health Insurance Scheme, Ghana can be used to assess those aspects of disease that require medical attention. Second, to understand and respond to the multifaceted roots and consequences of chronic diseases, research, interventions and policies have to be informed by multidisciplinary biomedical and social science – collaborations. Statement of Problem There is a perception that chronic conditions are rare or that they do not pose significant public health challenges compared to communicable diseases.
Goal: Generally, the study aims to assess the prevalence of chronic diseases with aging in Ghana. Objectives: Specifically it discusses the types of chronic disease in cape coast, examine the ages associated with chronic disease, identify possible causes of chronic disease, identify the need for policies on chronic disease and discuss the possible implications of chronic disease in Cape Coast-Ghana. Research Hypothesis Ho: There is no significant relationship between aging and chronic disease H1: There is a significant relationship between aging and chronic disease Methodology and Timelines
Data: Secondary data from Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme, out-patient’s records. It is a descriptive study which employ the use of existing data from NHIS (out-patient’s records) that has been collected for other purpose other than the research project at hand (Monette et al, 2000) for analysis since the research would be conducted within a limited time frame. The data for the study are from 2004 to 2010. This provides larger database as compared to primary sources, cost and time saving. The research design is descriptive-longitudinal. Data collection is conducted by NHIS. Sample design and instrument, it is accidental technique.